A powers



March 13, 1962 H. A. POWERS HOPPER FOR USE IN FARE COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.

HOWARD A. POWERS ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1962 H. A. POWERS 3,024,970

HOPPER FOR USE IN FARE COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HOWARD A. POWERS ATTORNEYS March 13, 1962 H. A. POWERS HOPPER FOR USE IN FARE COLLECTION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.

HOWARD A. POWERS ATTORNEYS tats 3,624,970 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 3,024fi7t3 HOPPER FOR USE IN FARE COLLECTION APFARATUS Howard A. Powers, Medfield, Mass., assignor to Universal Controls, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Filed Feb. 29, 1%0, Ser. No. 11,711 9 Claims. (CI. 232-44) The present invention relates to fare collection apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coin receiving hopper for use in fare collection apparatus that is adapted to be positioned at an automatic toll station.

With the development of the super highway in recent years, automatic toll collection apparatus has been put into use in an effort to speed up vehicular traffic through the toll lanes. The automatic toll collection apparatus is normally installed in a booth or housing and includes a fare registering or coin machine that controls a visual signal for indicating passage through the toll station. Thus upon the insertion of the proper amount of coins into the fare registering machine, a green or go" signal is automatically actuated to indicate permission to pass through the toll station. In order to receive the coins or fares for directing them into the coin machine, the prior known toll collection devices have usually included a metallic hopper structure that was secured to the housing in some convenient manner. These prior known hoppers for use in coin machines which were constructed of a rigid metal material were limited in the extent in which they projected outwardly from the housing, and therefore, in order for the motorist to safely deposit his fare into the hopper, he had to approach the toll collecting station in close proximity to the toll booth housing. The natural inclination of most motorists approaching a toll collection area is to steer his vehicle away from an obstruction, and it has been found that most motorists will drive into a toll collection station somewhat removed from the housing on which the coin hopper is mounted. In this event, and with the prior known hoppers installed, it was necessary for the motorist to toss or throw the coin through free space into the hopper, and since the prior known hopper was limited in its span, the motorist would frequently miss the hopper, causing the coin to roll upon the ground. This necessitated the motorist leaving his car and searching for the coin that had fallen on the ground. If enough motorists missed the hopper, it is seen that the traflic at the toll station would soon jam and thereby defeat the purpose of the automatic toll collecting apparatus.

The present invention is designed to avoid the heretofore known difiiculties in depositing coins in a toll collection hopper and provides a hopper which defines a relatively large target to which the motorist may direct his fare. Moreover, the body of the hopper embodied herein is constructed in such manner that the leading edge thereof is vertically reduced, whereas the trailing edge thereof is vertically increased thereby providing a construction that is more adaptable for deflecting coins into the interior of the hopper. The reduced leading edge encourages the motorist or driver to properly deposit his coin or fare into the hopper, while the increased trailing edge prevents the coins from being overthrown even from a moving vehicle. In the here tofore known hopper construction, the hopper was normally made of a metallic material, which discouraged the motorist from approaching the hopper in close proximity with respect thereto. The present invention includes a hopper that is formed of a resilient, yielding clear plastic material which will deflect if struck by a vehicle fender or door, and will thereby prevent injury thereto.

Moreover because the hopper body is formed of a clear plastic material, the motorist is encouraged to approach the hopper in close proximity with respect thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hopper construction for use in toll collecting apparatus that is designed to encourage the proper depositing of fares therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hopper for use in fare collecting apparatus that is formed of a deformable plastic material and that includes a reduced leading edge and an increased trailing edge, thereby providing a large target area for the passing motorist.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hopper for use in fare collecting apparatus that includes baflle means for preventing rain from entering into the coin machine with which the hopper is associated.

Still another object is to provide a hopper for use in coin collecting apparatus that includes a magnet associated therewith adjacent the throat section thereof that is adapted to prevent slugs and unacceptable articles from entering the coin machine.

Another object is to provide a coin hopper for use at a toll collecting station wherein the coin hopper projects outwardly over the toll lane and into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a free-standing housing that is adapted to be positioned at a toll collecting station, the coin hopper embodied herein being mounted on the freestanding cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the free-standing cabinet and hopper illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of one form of the coin hopper embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, of the hopper illustrated in FIG. 3 with parts shown in section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the hopper structure illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of the flange member in which the hopper is adapted to be positioned;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the hopper embodied herein;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the hopper shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line IL-11 in FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the hopper embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10 and as shown is adapted to be mounted in a free-standing cabinet indicated at 12. The hopper it] has a funnel-like configuration, tapering from a wide upper mouth portion 14 to a throat section 16. The hopper 12 is mounted in a recess 18 formed in the forward wall of the freestanding cabinet 12 by suitable means such as a trim portion 19, the throat section 16 being fixed in a lower flange 20 that is secured to a shelf 22 formed as part of the recess '18. An opening is formed in the flange 20 that communicates with an opening in the shelf 22, the openings defining an entrance to an inlet 24 that is formed as part of a coin or fare registering machine 26 positioned within the free-standing cabinet 12.

The coin machine 26 may be of any conventional design and is adapted to register the fares directed thereto from the hopper The coin machine 26 is also electrically connected to a visual signal (not shown) that is adapted to indicate passage through the toll collecting station upon the deposit of the proper fare into the hopper 10.

The free-standing cabinet 12 is mounted on a platform 27 and is positioned at the toll station adjacent a toll lane indicated at 29, the toll lane 29 defining the roadway upon which the approaching vehicles travel when entering the toll station. It is understood that the free-standing cabinet 12 may be moved to any convenient location to define a toll collection area, but in all positions of use it will be located adjacent a toll lane so that the approaching vehicles may be driven into close proximity with respect thereto. As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 10, which is adapted to receive the fares or coins deposited by the drivers of the vehicles, extends outwardly from the for- Wardmo-st wall of the free-standing cabinet 12 and projects over the toll lane 29 so that in effect the hopper 10 is in the path of the approaching vehicles. As will be described hereinafter, this overhanging or projecting feature of the hopper 10 enables the vehicle motorist to more readily drop the fare therein when moving through the toll station.

Referring now to FIGS. -3 through 7, the hopper 10 is illustrated in detail and includes a rear plate 28 that in front elevation is formed with generally vertically extending side portions 30 and 32 integrally joined to the vertically extending side portions 30, 32 and formed as extensions thereof are lower inclined side portions 34 and 36 respectively, the inclined side portions 34, 36 being joined by a bottom portion '38. Joined to the rear plate 28 and bent rearwardly at right angles with respect thereto are opposed flanges 40 and 41 which are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 4, a concave portion 42 is formed in the rear plate 28 substantially centrally thereof and defines a target area at which the passing motorist may direct his coins. The concave portion 42 further acts to prevent ricocheting of the thrown coins and thus deflects the coins into the hopper interior.

Joined to the rear plate 28 along the vertically extending side portions 30, 32 and along the lower inclined side portions 34, 36 is a curved body portion 44 formed of clear plastic material that cooperates with the rear plate to define a generally funnel-shaped configuration. The upper end of the body portion 44 is defined by a curved lip 46 that is spaced from the rear plate 28 to form the mouth 14. The lower end of the body portion 44 is defined by a semi-circular edge 45 that cooperates with the rear plate 28 to form the throat section 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the body portion 44 conforms to the configuration of the rear plate 28 along the inclined side portions 34, '36, a portion of the vertically extending side portion 30 and substantially the entire length of the vertically extending side portion 32. Thus the leading edge of the lip 46 or the left side as seen in FIG. 3 is relatively reduced in vertical dimension, the lip dipping downwardly from the leading edge to define a vertically reduced area 48 and then extending toward the trailing edge with a generally increasing slope to define a vertically increased area 50.

It is seen that the leading portion of the lip 46 or that area of the lip that is more near the oncoming trafiic is substantially reduced with respect to the trailing portion of the lip 46. By providing the reduced leading portion of the lip 46, coins may be more easily'or readily deposited in the hopper especially from a moving vehicle, the relatively high rear plate 28 and increased trailing portion of the lip 46 cooperating to restrict the coins 4 or fares from being thrown outwardly of the hopper by the passing motorist.

As shown in FIG. 6, the flange 40 joined to the rear plate 28 and the trailing edge 50 of the lip 46 are maintained in sealing relation by a gasket 52 that is positioned therebetween. The gasket is squeezed outwardly at the junction or corner of the rear plate 28 and the trailing edge 50 and defines a shield indicated at 54 that prevents coins from jamming in the corner. The flange 41 (FIG. 7) has a similar gasket 56 secured thereto which is formed with a head portion 58 that extends to the wall of the recess 18, thereby closing a space 60 formed between the wall and the hopper and acting to prevent coins from entering the space when thrown into the hopper by the passing motorists.

As mentioned above the hopper 10 is mounted in the recess 18 of the housing 12 and is retained in position by the trim 19. As shown in FIG. 8, the flange 20 includes a recessed portion 64 defined by inclined walls, the recessed portion 64 communicating with an opening 66 formed in the neck 68. The throat section of the hopper 10 extends into the recessed portion 64 and has access directly with the opening 66 which in turn communicates with the inlet 24 of the coin machine 26. A marginal gasket 70 is disposed between the underside of the flange 20 and the upper surface of the shelf 20 and sealingly mounts the flange in position. In order to positively locate the hopper 10 on the flange 20 a bracket 72 is provided and is bolted to the bottom of the plate 28 on the rear side thereof and is spaced therefrom to define a slot for receiving a shoulder 74 formed on the flange 20. It is seen that the flange 20 not only cooperates with the trim 19 to positively lock the hopper in position on the housing 12 but further seals the hopper therein and thus prevents liquids from entering into the coin machine 26 that is located within the housing 12.

Since the hopper 10 projects outwardly of the housing 12, it is seen that if the housing is not covered by a roof or some form of overhang or shelter, rain or snow will enter the throat section 16 of the hopper and will drain into the interior of the coin machine 26. In order to avoid the possibility of water entering the coin machine, which would be deleterious to the operating mechanism thereof, a rain bafile indicated at 76 in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided. The rain bafile 76 is formed with a rear offset extension 78 that is pivotally mounted on the rear plate 28 by a hinge 80. A baffie latch 82 is bolted to the baffle 76 through an angled projection 84 and is formed with a tongue 86 that is adapted to be secured in an opening 88 formed in the rear plate 28 and thereby positions the bafile 76 in the outward position thereof as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In clear weather, the tongue 82 may be released from the opening 88 to allow the baffle 76 to swing to the lowermost position thereof. Thus it is seen that with the baflle 76 in the lower position thereof the coins may be more readily directed into the throat section 16 of the hopper. In the operative position thereof any rain falling on the baffle 76 will be directed downwardly onto the hopper body 44. Since the hopper body 44 is perforated the rain will fall therethrough before it can reach the throat section 16. Therefore when the baffle 76 is located in the outermost position, rain will be deflected onto the perforated hopper body and the throat section will be protected from rain falling therethrough.

On frequent occasions, it has been observed that some motorists in attempting to avoid paying the proper toll will throw slugs or improper articles into the coin hopper with the hope that they will be accepted by the coin machine and passage through the toll station will be indicated. In order to prevent the slugs or other improper articles from entering the coin machine and possibly causing jamming thereof, a horseshoe magnet indicated at 90 in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided and is secured to the rear plate 28 adjacent the throat section 16. Thus, if a slug is thrown into the hopper 10 before it can pass through the throat section 16 and into the inlet 24 of the coin machine 26, it will be picked up by the magnet 70 and held thereto for removal by an attendant. The horseshoe type of magnet is preferably used since the strong field between the adjacent poles more readily attracts the slugs or foreign articles as they slide toward the opening in the throat section 16.

All of the component parts of the hopper are formed of a plastic material including the rear plate 28 which is molded to include the concave portion 40. The body portion 44 which is also constructed of a plastic material has a plurality of perforations 62 formed throughout the extent thereof. Because of the manner in which the body portion 44 is perforated and further due to the material from which it is formed, the body portion is sufficiently flexible and resilient to deform upon impact, such as when it is struck by a vehicle fender or door. Thus it is seen that a vehicle may closely approach the hopper 10, and if by accident the vehicle strikes the hopper 10, the flexible characteristics of the body portion 44 will prevent damage to the hopper, to the vehicle, or to the patrons hand.

It is seen that the hopper construction embodied herein is unique in that it provides a design whereby the patron may more easily deposit his fare therein. The reduced leading edge of the hopper body portion cooperates with the large rear plate 28 to encourage the patron to properly deposit his fare in the hopper. If for some reason the patron overthrows the intended area for depositing the fare, the rear plate 28 and the increased trailing edge of the lip 44 tend to retain the coins or fare within the interior of the hopper. A window 92 is also formed in the rear plate 28 and cooperates with a mirror 94 (P16. 2) secured to the rear thereof to enable the patron or attendant to see the coin machine 26 which further promotes interest in properly depositing the coin in the hopper. If desired the entire forward surface of the rear plate may be painted with the exception of the window, thereby urging the patron to throw the coins against the rear plate, rather than merely dropping the coins over the lip 46.

The rain bafile 76 and the perforated body portion 44 cooperate to prevent rain or liquid from entering into the coin machine. Moreover, the shape of the bafile is such that coins may reach the throat section 16 along the sides thereof when the bafiie is mounted in the rain-deflecting position. The hopper 10 is firmly mounted in position on the flange 20 and projects outwardly over the toll lane so that the patron passing through the toll station may more easily deposit his coin within the hopper.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and includes substantially the same hopper construction as discussed hereinabove. The hopper shown in FIGS. 9 through 10 is generally indicated at 93 and includes a rear plate 94 and a body portion 96 that is joined to the rear plate 94 along the sides thereof to define a generally funnel-shaped configuration having a wide open mouth portion and a restricted throat section. As shown in FIG. 10, the rear plate 94 is also provided with a concave portion 98, and in order to promote proper depositing of fares within the hopper, the concave portion 98 is painted with concentric circles as indicated in FIG. 9 and thereby simulates target area 100. An elliptical window indicated at 101 is formed as part of the target area and provides a clear section through which the patron may see. A mirror, similar to mirror 94- in FIG. 2 is located rearwardly of the window 101 and cooperates therewith to enable the patron or attendant to see the coin machine mounted within the housing 12.

The body portion 96 of the hopper 93 is formed of a perforated plastic material and includes a reduced leading edge and an increased trailing edge that are secured to the side portions of the rear plate 94 in the manner described above. The hopper 93 also includes means for preventing rain or moisture from entering the coin machine, and as shown in FIG. 10 includes an outwardly projection portion that is formed as an integral part of the rear plate 94 adjacent the bottom thereof. As shown in FIG. 11, the outwardly projecting portion includes an upper wall 103 to which an upper projection 104 is joined. A lower projection 106 is spaced from the upper projection by a recessed portion 168. The lower projection 106 extends somewhat more forwardly than the projection 104 and has a lower inclined wall 110 joined thereto that in turn is joined to the lower portion of the rear plate 94. It is seen that rain falling on the upper wall 103 drains onto the projection 104 and then onto the perforated body portion 96. Should any of the rain follow the contour of the upper projection 104, it will then drain onto the outwardly extending projection 106 which then directs the rain onto the perforated body portion 96. Since the projections 104, 106 extend substantially over the throat section of the hopper, the rain will be prevented from entering the inlet of the coin machine. Any rain that falls on the body portion will of course fall through the perforations therein and will thereby be prevented from running downwardly into the throat section of the hopper.

The hopper 93 is also provided with a horseshoe type magnet indicated at 112 that is mounted on the inclined wall 110 of the inwardly projecting portion 110. As described hereinabove in connection with magnet the horseshoe magnet 112 is adapted to prevent slugs or other foreign articles from entering the throat section of the hopper. The hopper is retained in position on a flange similar to flange 20 illustrated in FIG. 7 and is further joined to the housing in which it is mounted in the manner described above.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fare collection apparatus for use at a toll collection station, a housing positioned adjacent the toll lane of said station and having a coin machine mounted therein, a coin hopper fixed to said housing and having a throat portion that communicates with the inlet of said coin machine, said hopper including an enlarged rear member formed of plastic material that tapers upwardly from said throat portion and defines a deflector for coins thrown into said hopper by passing patrons, a body joined to said rear member at said throat portion and at the sides thereof and extending outwardly over said toll lane and substantially into the path of the oncoming vehicles, said body being formed of a resilient, perforated plastic material and including a trailing edge portion and a leading edge portion, said trailing edge being more rearwardly positioned with respect to the direction of the oncoming traffic than said leading edge and extending a substantial portion of the vertical dimension of said rear member, thereby acting as a guard to prevent the overthrow of coins when they are directed into said hopper by the passing motorists, said leading edge being substantially reduced with respect to the vertical dimension of said rear member and providing for easy depositing of said coins in said hopper, said flexible plastic material from which said hopper is formed being deflectable if struck by an oncoming vehicle, thereby preventing damage to said hopper and to the body of said vehicle, a baflle joined to said enlarged rear member and extending forwardly therefrom to project over said throat portion, wherein rain or the like is deflected onto said perforated body and is prevented from entering said coin machine, and a magnet mounted on said rear member adjacent said throat portion for preventing unacceptable ferrous articles from entering said coin machine.

2. In a hopper for use with a fare collecting machine, a rear plate, a body joined to said rear plate and cooperating therewith to define a substantially funnel shaped configuration having an upper enlarged mouth section and a lower restricted throat section, said plate forming a rear deflector for deflecting coins into the hopper interior, the upper edge of said body defining the lip of said mouth section, said lip having an increasing slope to define a reduced leading edge portion and an increased trailing edge portion, said reduced leading edge portion providing for easy deposit of coins in said hopper by passing patrons and said increased trailing edge portion preventing overthrow of said coinswhen directed toward said hopper by said passing patrons.

3. In a hopper as set forth in claim 2, a magnet mounted on said hopper adjacent said throat section for preventing unacceptable articles from entering the inlet of said fare collecting machine.

4. In a hopper for use with a fare collecting machine, a rear plate, a body joined to said rear plate and cooperating there-with to define a substantially funnel shaped configuration having an upper enlarged mouth section and a lower restricted throat section, said rear plate defining a rear deflector for deflecting fares into the hopper interior that are thrown thereagainst by the passing patron, said body having an upper lip that increases in slope to form a reduced leading edge portion and an increased trailing edge portion and being formed of a resilient plastic material that is perforated to drain liquid therethrough.

'5. In a hopper as set forth in claim 4, a rain deflector joined to said rear plate and extending over said throat section, said rain deflector directing rain falling thereon onto said body whereupon said rain escapes through the perforations in said body and is thereby prevented from passing into said fare collecting machine.

6. In a hopper as set forth in claim 4, said rear plate having concentric circles imprinted thereon to define a target area, said circles being colored in alternate relation to produce a target that induces the passing patron to strike when depositing his fare.

7. In a hopper as set forth in claim 4, said fare collection'machine being installed in a housing located at a vehicle toll collection station, said rear plate being secured to said housing and said body extending outwardly of said housing and over the toll lane upon which the ve- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.21,301 Fry Dec. 19, 1939 2,338,575 Dau gherty Jan. 4, 1944 2,519,525 White Aug. 22, 1950 2,896,761 Grant July 28, 1959 

